new to tdi's and interested in Bio Diesel

[tongsli]

Excuse me, you don't know what you're talking about. More biodiesel than ever has been sold in 2014! Earnings are down, but sales are UP. And 2013 was a record year in itself! The combination of fleets having to meet the standard set in 2006 (15% of any fleet in America must use renewables), the military (still uses the most), and the fact that more and more state require a certain percentage of biodiesel in their petrodiesel all adds up.


http://biodieselmagazine.com/articles/231137/reg-q3-financials-more-biodiesel-sales-but-less-revenue

I know your comment wasn't direct by me, but I still won't use it in my TDI. It's just not worth it. Like I've said, I'll get an electric car when VW makes one that can go 300 miles on a single charge.

 

[SFHGolfTDI]

Excuse me, you don't know what you're talking about. More biodiesel than ever has been sold in 2014! Earnings are down, but sales are UP. And 2013 was a record year in itself! The combination of fleets having to meet the standard set in 2006 (15% of any fleet in America must use renewables), the military (still uses the most), and the fact that more and more states require a certain percentage of biodiesel in their petrodiesel all adds up.


http://biodieselmagazine.com/articles/231137/reg-q3-financials-more-biodiesel-sales-but-less-revenue

Why this section isn't seeing so much traffic is another story.

I am not talking about overall sales/production, nor disputing what you are saying about continued growth in the industry. All that is true. Also, my comment is tainted by the CA context where biodiesel really did fall on very hard times, but mostly because of an absurd ban of biodiesel in underground storage tanks that essentially wiped out ALL biodiesel at retail pumps. Only recently did that get reversed and we are finally starting to see more B20 at the pump, but B100/B99 is still limited to small special interest groups, coops and a few hippy Bay Area pumps as an experimental fuel and is otherwise not available at retail pumps.

The point I was making is that we are definitely no longer in the heady early days where B100 was viewed as an *alternative drop-in diesel fuel* that was homegrown and sustainable and widely available. New diesel engine tech certainly doesn't support it at all. Small producers have been mostly wiped out and only larger and more regional producers are now really viable (that might be better for consistency and quality, but is more about the bottom line). Home brewers have to quietly find sources of WVO because it is no longer a waste product but a commodity that is sold.

Basically, without federal subsidies in the form of the biodiesel tax incentive (which is renewed irregularly and not part of an overall policy), even profit margins for the industry are slim and subject to uncertainty, which also stifles growth and investment. Right now, while D2 selling locally is around $3.39/gal, our coop is having to sell B99 for $4.40 because prices haven't come down as a result of congress not extending the tax credit until Dec. 3, and only until the New Year!

My point was about why this forum is quieter than back in 2003-2009: If you are lucky to have a pre-PD TDI (or a PD if you are brave), fortunate enough to have a source of quality, affordable B100/B99, educated enough to decide whether you want to use it after reading all of the mixed opinions here and elsewhere, you might opt to use biodiesel in a higher blend.

Otherwise, as you said, the industry largely relies on the blending market, which isn't a bad thing. It just doesn't necessarily satisfy those of us who have more ideological reasons for wanting to use it as a viable alternative to petrodiesel.

 

[Uisge]

I've been running mine on B100 for 6 months. I went cold turkey; one fill dinodiesel, the next fill B100. I get it from a small local producer who uses waste vegetable oil, and produces it with a BioPro 380. He sells it for about 10-15 cents per litre (40-60 cents per gal) cheaper than dinodiesel.

Now that winter's here, he adds an antigel to it, and I'm still running B100. Last week, the morning temp was -16C (3F), and I had plugged in my Zerostart heater for a couple of hours before I had to leave. I also use the OEM winter grill blockers. I had no problems, and drove for near an hour. By then it had warmed up. I'll add 10-15% dinodiesel when it gets really cold.

My mileage has definitely suffered, about 10%, from dinodiesel, but right now, I'm prepared to put up with that. Driveability hasn't changed. 2002 Jetta 5-speed, 325000km (202000 miles)

 

[BeetleGo]

Uisge,

* Antigel has no affect on biodiesel. At all.

* When it's winter, blend down to 20% biodiesel. Trust me, you don't want a 'gelling event' - unless you're in the sunbelt blend DOWN during the winter.

* While your source is undeniably cheap, good luck. People who sell ASTM certified commercial biodiesel must make good if their fuel fails you (always save your receipts!). Will your source pay for any damage that their biodiesel may cause? It can get expensive!

 

[SFHGolfTDI]

Uisge,

* Antigel has no affect on biodiesel. At all.

* When it's winter, blend down to 20% biodiesel. Trust me, you don't want a 'gelling event' - unless you're in the sunbelt blend DOWN during the winter.

* While your source is undeniably cheap, good luck. People who sell ASTM certified commercial biodiesel must make good if their fuel fails you (always save your receipts!). Will your source pay for any damage that their biodiesel may cause? It can get expensive!

The Biopros are really good machines and tend to consistently produce ASTM quality fuel from what I understand. But you are still putting your faith in an individual. Just be careful.

I was a little surprised about the "anti-gel" as well. I would never run anything more than B20 at that temp. Heed BeetleGo's advice on this one! Your block heater might be working to keep you from gelling now, but if you park anywhere in that temp with B100 without plugging in, I'm sure it won't be long before you gel up.